By Lita Batho, June 3, 2024
Are your shrubs taking over? The Portland area nearly bursts with greenery in May and June as our wet months combine with warmer weather and sunlight.
As relatively static components of our landscaping, shrubs tend to escape notice as they creep larger over the years. When you’re ready to sell, you may need a fresh set of eyes to see that your once reasonable plantings have expanded! Likewise, plants and shrubs growing right up against the siding and windows of the home can promote moss growth and moisture retention, so are best trimmed away from the home.
I found this issue at this home in Beaverton, Oregon. The plantings in front of the house had all matured to the point where they were too big to all occupy the area directly in front of the windows, and adjacent to the front door. This created a crowded and bushy impression, and the large vaulted living room felt dark and enclosed. As much as I love plants, this area needed a refresh!
Bright interiors are key when selling a home in the (sometimes gloomy) Pacific Northwest! These utilitarian plantings were chosen to be low maintenance and green, and require little care since the house had been a rental. Had the plants been specially selected or lovingly cultivated, it may have been a different story. In this case, with the seller’s approval, we removed the largest shrub, pruned and shaped up the others. The interior was flooded with fresh sunlight, and the home was a hit! Inundated with showings all weekend, the sellers received multiple offers and accepted one within 4 days of going on the market. I can’t give full credit to the exterior shrub editing, but it certainly helped to make a great first impression.
Lita Batho
Broker | OR & WA
She/Her
Lita has a genuine enthusiasm for navigating home purchases and sales with the intention of outperforming the market and making the process stress free and transparent for her clients.
"I began real estate as an independent agent, however during the pandemic, decided to accelerate my experience and build skills more quickly by serving as a listing specialist for a highly productive, all-female team. Even though there were only 5 of us we were one of the busiest teams in the city, and over 2.5 years, I helped over 60 sellers successfully navigate the sale of various property types throughout the Portland Metro area. From condos and fixers to bungalows and homes with million-dollar views, I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with a diverse range of clients, including seniors downsizing, young families seeking more space, and single women embarking on their next step.
While this experience was rewarding, having accelerated my experience, deepened my knowledge, and honed my skills, it felt natural to return to solo agency in 2024. I'd missed the autonomy and agility that come with being a solo business owner, considering that I've been a business owner for the majority of my working life, and I was eager to leverage these qualities to further benefit my clients.
I firmly believe that whether you're buying or selling a home, you deserve genuine and excellent representation. My consistent client feedback highlights my strengths in setting proper expectations, negotiating, timely communication, and efficiency -- all while being kind, direct, and a dedicated advocate.
My goal extends beyond successful sales and purchases, however; I aim to earn my clients' trust, leading to their recommendations. The highest compliment I can receive is that a past client trusts me with their own friends and family."
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lita relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 1995 and has lived in Portland since 2001. She has an small business background, and a zest for negotiation, having grown up in her mother's retail shops and selling Christmas trees for her dad. Lita spent several years as a steel sculptor and public artist in Seattle, as well gaining extensive experience as a yoga teacher. When not working, you’ll find her cultivating an ever-expanding flower garden, doing home improvement projects, making art, or hiking in Forest Park or the gorge.
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- litabatho@livingroomre.com
